Window sash operating mechanism



Cd. 21, 1941. v ELVERS 2,260,013

WINDOW SASH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Oct. 21, 1941. R. E. ELVERS WINDOW- SASH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z'NvE/vTo/e, JZoy E'EL VEES I l I I I I I I l II l. A

n A H H H H W H H H H H H H H H H H Patenteci Oct. 21, 1941 WINDOW SASHOPERATING MECHANISM Roy E. Elvers, Los Angeles, Calif, assignor ofonefourth to John C. Morgan, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 4, 1940, Serial No. 322,090

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a window sash operating mechanism and has forits principal objects, to generally improve upon and simplify theconstruction of the existing forms of similar structures and to providea window sash operating mechanism that is relatively simple inconstruction and capable of being easily and conveniently manipulated soas to raise and lower window sash with minimum effort on the part of theoperator.

A further object of my invention is to provide a window sash operatingmechanism wherein the sash counterbalancing weights on one side of thewindow are suspended from a vertically movable pulley-carrying framethat forms a part of the mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to provide in a window sashoperating mechanism a relatively simple and improved form of pulley orsheave-carrying frame, the same being constructed so that a part thereofmay be conveniently removed in order to permit insertion and removal ofthe sheave or pulley.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts thatwill be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a window equipped with my improvedwindow sash operatingmechanism and showing the jambs and the lintel invertical section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view and showing my improvedoperating means associated with the upper and lower sash of a window.

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2 and showing a modifiedform of the sash operating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line n 6--a of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view with parts broken away and in section of apulley-carrying frame utilized in my improved apparatus.

Fig. 8 is an edge view of the pulley-carrying frame illustrated in Fig.7 and with the lower portion thereof in vertical section.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a modified form of the pulley-carryingframe.

Fig. 10 is an edge view of th form of frame illustrated in Fig. 9 withthe upper portion thereof in vertical section.

Referring by numerals to .the accompanying drawings and particularly tothe form of operating mechanism illustrated inFigs. 1 to 4 inclusive,l0, l0 designate the jambs of a window frame, II the lintel, l2 thesill, IS the frame of the lower sash and 14 the frame of the upper sash.I

Behind the jambs Hi, narrow vertically disposed. pockets or chambers i5are provided for the accommodation of the weights that counterbalancethe weight of .thesash and for associated parts of the. operatingmechanism.

Journaled in suitable bearings it that are mounted on the frameconstruction beneath the sill I2 and preferably below the left hand oneof the pockets I5 is a horizontally disposed shaft I1 and mounted on theinner end thereof is a crank handle I8 and a small disc l9 that isprovided on its periphery with a plurality of angularly disposed faces.

Pivoted on the window frame beneath the sill l2 adjacent the inner oneof the bearings I6 is a latch provided in its free end with a notch 2|having angular faces that are adapted to engage the correspondingangular faces on the upper portion of the disc I9. Thus, when-latch 2i!is swung into position so that the notch 2| receives the upper portionof the disc IS the shaft I1 is latched against rotation (see Fig. 4).

Mounted on shaft I! in the lower portion of the pocket I5 is a sprocketwheel 22 and journaled for rotation in housings 23 that are fixed withinthe lower portion of the window frame structure beneath sill I2 arepulleys 24. The housings 23 are disposed so that the pulleys arepositioned just above and on opposite sides of the sprocket wheel 22.

Journaled for rotation in suitable housings 25 that are mounted on topof lintel ll above the left hand pocket l5 are spaced pulleys 26 and apulley 21 is journaled in a bearing 28 immediately adjacent and betweenthe housings 25.

The axis for the pulleys 26 occupy the same vertical plane with the axisfor the pulleys 24 and likewise the axes of sprocket wheel 22 and pulley21 occupy the same vertical plane.

A frame that is arranged for vertical movement in the left hand one ofthe pockets l5 includes a turnbuckle 29, in the ends of which are seatedthe inner ends of short threaded rods 30 and the outer ends of theserods are seated respectively in blocks 3| that are removably positionedbetween the side walls 32 or pulley housings illustrated in detail inFigs. 7 and 8. The side portions of each pair of side walls 32 areconnected by integral cross bars 33 and formed integral with the upperends of the side walls of the upper one of the pulley housings and withthe lower ends of the side walls of the lower one of the pulley housingsare eyes 34.

Journaled for rotation upon and between the side walls 32 of eachhousing is a pulley 35. The block 3| that is removably positionedbetween the lower portions of the side walls 32 of the upper one of thepulley housings and which is secured to said side walls by means ofscrews 36 is provided on its ends with oppositely disposed arms 31 whichprovide supports for counterbalancing sash weights 38. The blocks 3| aremade readily removable from the pulley housings in order that thepulleys 35 may be readily inserted within and removed from saidhousings.

Passing beneath'the' pulley 35 in the upper one of the housings 32 is aflexible member 39, preferably a chain, the same extending upwardlythrough apertures formed in the lintel I thence over the pulleys 26 andthence downwardly through apertures in the lintel. One end of this chainis suitably connected to the upper left hand corner of the upper sashand the other end of the chain is likewise connected to the upper lefthand corner of the lower sash.

Connected to the eye 34 on the upper end of the upper one of the pulleyhousings 32 is one end of a flexible member 40, preferably a chain, thesame extending upwardly through an opening in the lintel thence overpulley 21, thence downwardly and the lower end of this downwardlyextending portion is connected to the upper end of a retractile spring4| within the pocket I 5.

Connected to the lower end of this spring by means of aturnbuckle 42 isone end of a sprocket chain 43 that passes downwardly, thencebeneathsprocket wheel 22, thence upwardly and the upper end of the upwardlyextending portion is connected to the eye 34 at the lower end of thelower pulley housing 32.

Suitably secured to the upper right hand corners of the frames of theupper and lower sash are flexible members 44 that passupwardly adjacentthe right hand jamb I0, thence through openings that are formed in thelintel thence over pulleys 45 that are mounted for operation on top ofthe lintel, thence downwardly in a pocket 46 that is formed in thebuilding structure adjacent the right hand one of the jambs Ill andsecured to the lower ends of those portions of the flexible members insaid pocket are counterbalancing weights 41. The weight that is carriedby the flexible member that is connected to the upper sash is slightlyheavier, for instance, approximately two pounds, than the weight that isconnected to the lower sash and which arrangement is desirable in thatit tends to normally maintain both sash in full closed position eventhough the sash are not locked in such closed position.

Passing-over the pulley carried by the lower one of the pulley housings32 is a flexible member 48, for instance, a chain or cable, the sameextending downwardly from the lower pulley through the lower portion ofpocket |5 and said member passes beneath the pulleys 24, thence upwardlythrough an opening formed in sill |2 and one end of said flexible memberis secured to the lower left hand corner of the lower sash and the otherend of said member is secured to the lower left hand corner of the uppersash.

In Fig. 3 the upper and lower sash, the counterbalancing weights and theconnections between said sash and weights are shown diagrammatically.

In the operation of this form of sash operating mechanism and assumingthat both sash are in closed position and it is desired to raise thelower sash, crank I8 is engaged and manipulated to rotate shaft so as topull that portion of the chain 43 that is connected to the lower one ofthe pulley housings 32, downwardly. Such action draws threaded rod 30,together with the counterbalancing weights 38 and the upper one of thepulley housings 32, downwardly, thereby increasing the distance from theupper one of the pulley housings 32 and the pulleys 36 over which passthe flexible members 39.

As the upper end of the upper sash bears against the lintel I, saidupper sash can not move upwardly and, therefore, that portion of theflexible member between the upper one of the pulley housings 32 and theend of said flexible member that is connected to the lower sash will bedrawn downwardly and, consequently, exerting upward pull on said lowersash to raise the same from the window sill.

Obviously, such movement :permits the flexible member 44 that isconnected to the upper right hand corner of the lower sash to pass overits pulleys 45 and the weight 41 that is connected to said flexiblemember to move downward in the pocket 46. v

To latch the lower sash in its elevated position, the arm 23 is swunginto position so that its notch 2| engages the angular faces on disc I9that is carried by shaft I1 and to further lock said lower sash, aconventional sash lock L, preferably of the type comprising a short armhaving an eccentric head that is pivoted on the inner face of the lefthand stile of the lower sash frame, may be manipulated so as to clampthe adjacent window stop (see Fig. 1).

To close the lower sash, it is only necessary to reversely rotate shaftI! from the direction in which it was rotated to raise said lower sash.

To lower the upper sash, the shaft I1 is by means of crank handle l5rotated so as to actuate flexible member 43 and elevate that portionthereof that is connected to the pulley housings 32. As the pulleyscarried by the pulley housings 32 are thus elevated, that portion of theflexible member 39 that is connected to the upper right hand corner ofthe upper sash will be actuated or paid out so as to permit the uppersash to move downward and that portion of flexible member 48 that passesover the pulley carried by the lower one of the pulley housings 32,beneath the pulleys 24, andwhich is connected to the lower left handcorner of the upper sash will be actuated so as to pull said upper sashdownward and which movement will not affect the lower sash due to thefact that the lower end thereof rests on sill l2.

In the event that it is desired to partially lower the upper sash afterthe lower sash has been partially raised, shaft I1 is rotated by meansof crank handle |8 so as to actuate the various connections to lower theupper sash, but in so doing the lower sash must be held against movementeither by pressure of the hand or by manipulation of the latch L tolatching position.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the ends of aflexible member 49, either a chain or cable, are secured to the stilesof the upper and lower sash, preferably on the right hand sides thereof,and said flexible member passes over pulleys 59 that are seated in theright hand jamb of the window frame. From said pulleys the parallelportions of member 49 pass downwardly through a pocket 52 formed in thebuilding structure adjacent the right hand jamb of the window frame andsaid member passes beneath a pulley 53 that is carried by a pulleyhousing 54.

Projecting from opposite sides of the lower portion of the housing 54are arms 55 from which are suspended counterbalancing weights 56.Depending from the pulley housing 54 is a rod 51 and adjustably mountedon the lower end thereof is an eye 58 to which is connected one end of aflexible member 59, such as a chain or cable. This flexible memberpasses beneath pulleys 60 that are journaled in suitable bearings in thelower portion of pocket 52 above the window sill BI and from saidpulleys member 59 extends upwardly in front of the upright right handportion of the window frame and at the top of said upright member, saidflexible member 59 passes over pulleys 62 that are journaled foroperation in the upper portion of the window frame just below thelintel. From the inner one of said pulleys 62, member 59 passesdownwardly through pocket 52 and the lower end thereof is connected toan eye 63 that is carried by the upper end of the pulley housing 54.

Carried by that portion of the flexible member 59 that is disposed infront of the window casing between the pulleys 60 and 62 is a handle 64that is adapted to be grasped by the hand for imparting movement toflexible member 59 when the window sash are raised and lowered.

Positioned on the window casing just above the pulleys 69 is aconventional latching device 65, preferably formed of resilient metal,through which the flexible member 59 passes and which latching device isadapted to grip and hold said flexible member against movement in eitherdirection.

In this form of sash operating mechanism, both sash are provided withcounterbalancing means as illustrated at the right hand of Figure 1 onthe side opposite the sash actuating mechanism just described and whichcounterbalancing means occupy a pocket in the building structureidentical with pocket 46.

In this form of apparatus, the handle 64 carried by flexible member 59is engaged and moved upward to raise the lower sash from its normalclosed position and as such action takes place, the pulley housing 54will be drawn downward, thereby pulling on that end of the flexiblemember 49 that is connected to the lower sash without actuating the endof said flexible member that is connected to the upper sash, the upperend of which bears against the lintel and thus, the lower sash is raisedto the desired degree.

'I'o lower the upper sash, handle 64 is engaged and moved downward andwhich movement through flexible member 59 elevates pulley housing 54,thereby paying out the end portion of said member 49 that is connectedto the upper sash and permitting the same to lower without affecting thelower sash, the lower end of which rests on the sill.

In Figs. 9 and I have illustrated the pulley housing 33 provided at itslower end with an eye 34a and at its upper end with a removable blockHe: that receives the end portion of a threaded rod, such as 39 or 51.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a window sash operatingmechanism that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive ofmanufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which itis intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form andconstruction of the various parts of my improved window sash operatingmechanism, may be made and substituted for those herein shown anddescribed, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scopeof which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a window frame and the upper and lower sasharranged for operation therein, of an endless flexible member arrangedfor operation in the building structure behind one of the jambs of thewindow frame, a pair of rolling supports for said endless flexiblemember, a longitudinally adjustable frame forming a part of said endlessflexible member, counterbalancing weights carried by said adjustableframe, pulleys carried by the ends of said adjustable frame, a flexiblemember passing beneath the upper one of said pulleys, rolling supportson the upper portion of said window frame for said flexible member, theends of said flexible member being secured to the upper portions of theupper and lower sash, a flexible member passing over the lower one ofthe pulleys carried by said longitudinally adjustable frame, rollingsupports arranged in the lower portion of the window frame for said lastmentioned flexible member and the ends of which last mentioned flexiblemember are connected to the lower portions of the window sash.

2. In a window sash operating mechanism the combination as set forth inclaim 1, with counterbalancing weights arranged for operation in thewindow frame on the opposite side thereof from said endless flexiblemember and the pulley carrying frame carried thereby, which lastmentioned counterbalancing weights are operatively connected to theupper and lower sash and the weight that is connected to the upper sashbeing heavier than the weight that is connected to the lower sash.

3. In a window sash operating mechanism the combination with a windowframe and upper and lower sash arranged for operation therein and therebeing a vertically disposed pocket formed in the building structurebehind one of the jambs of the window frame, of rolling supportsarranged for operation adjacent the upper and lower ends of said pocket,an endless flexible member mounted for operation on. said rollingsupports, said endless flexible member including a pair of adjustablyconnected rods, pulley carrying housings adjustably mounted on saidrods, flexible members mounted for operation on the pulleys carried bysaid housings, which flexible members are connected respectively to theupper portions of the upper and lower sash and the lower portions ofsaid upper and lower sash and counterbalancing weights carried by theupper one of said pair of adjustably connected rods.

ROY E. ELVERS.

